CHENNAI:A week after controversy surrounding the Apostolic Christian Assembly (ACA) at Purasaiwalkam erupted, the issue is yet to die down, with president of the church society pastor Caleb B Joshua announcing that the church will not convene for Sunday worship.
Speaking to the media at the Reporters’ Guild, Joshua said the church was cancelling the worship session to repair damages to the property after last week’s sit-in protest. Alleging that Joshua has placed chief pastor M K Sam Sundaram under house arrest, agitating congregation members had demanded that he present the septuagenarian at a worship session.
However, members close to the Joshua camp told Express that he was shutting the gates after the Purasaiwalkam tahsildar warned that a repeat of last week’s incident could result in a lockdown of the place. “Sam Sundaram is hale and hearty. It’s only a rival camp trying to sabotage Caleb’s footing in the church,” said a Joshua camp member.
Last week, the agitating members had cleared the church premises, after sitting in for more than 32 hours, only after Sam Sundaram appeared on a video, appealing for calm and promising to be present for the Sunday worship this week. The agitating members told Express that Caleb was playing with their emotions, warning that if they were to be locked out on Sunday, then the situation could take a turn for the worse. “Joshua’s family is trying to loot the church estate property worth over `1,000 crore and swindle all cash. Joshua’s actions have resulted in several prominent members of the church quitting,” claimed a member, dropping names, including that of a rather popular young Tamil film star and his family, and some senior politicos.
According to another church faithful and a member of the general body, Joshua was acting on his own. “The president has been taking decisions by himself which is not in everyone’s interest,” the member alleged.The agitating members also charged that the church, despite being registered as a society and incorporated under the Societies Registration Act, had not declared its holding assets value, cash flow, profits etc to the State government since 1992.
Despite repeated calls, Caleb Joshua or his wife Kezia could not be reached for a reaction on the allegation.